WASHINGTON — With acceptance of marijuana use growing nationally, a panel of U.S. House lawmakers on Thursday tried to figure out how authorities could better police the nation’s highways, railways and airways for the threat posed by the potential of more “drugged drivers.”

But by the end of the nearly two-hour hearing, answers and agreement were in short supply — other than the shared admission that more research was needed. “We need a lot more science here,” said U.S. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va.

In particular, lawmakers and witnesses debated the overall danger posed by stoned drivers, as well as potential methods that law enforcement officials could use to test for impairment.

“We have no standard test for marijuana for drivers,” said U.S. Rep. John Mica, a Florida Republican who has called several hearings on marijuana. But he argued there was in an inherent danger in other states following Colorado and Washington state in legalizing recreational sales of the drug. “We are going to have a lot more people stoned on the highway and there will be consequences,” Mica said.

Research on marijuana usage on driving has been limited, as well as the degree to which legalization could impact those figures.

As in previous rankings, Democrats scored well, Republicans, not so much.

Conservation Colorado honored Rep. Jared Wright, R-Fruita, for “reaching across the aisle.” The outgoing lawmaker — he’s not running for re-election — had the highest GOP score in the House, at 64 percent. Seven House Republicans scored “O.” In the Senate, Bernie Herpin of Colorado Springs had the highest GOP score, at 60 percent. Two GOP senators scored “O.”

Rep. KC Becker, D-Boulder, was named “one to watch.”

Conservation Colorado works on climate change, water and the wilderness.

“We worked with our legislative champions to protect Colorado’s air, land, water and public health while fighting back against big polluters and those who don’t believe in the value of our public lands,” said Pete Maysmith, executive director of Conservation Colorado.

Conservation community priorities this year included defending Colorado’s clean renewable energy leadership, creating a paint recycling and disposal program and increasing the efficient use and reuse of scarce water supplies, according a news release.

Neurosurgeon Steve Shogan, who has made the U.S. Senate ballot as an unaffiliated candidate, wants to be included in debates with Democrat Mark Udall and Republican Cory Gardner.

Steve Shogan (Handout)

Shogan’s campaign manager, Sue Hoover, said letters have been sent to the candidates and other outlets requesting Shogan be included as he is a “serious” candidate.

“The fact is,” said Hoover, “there are as many voters registered in Colorado as unaffiliated as there are Republican and Democrat, so it only makes sense that an independent candidate be heard along side the party candidates.”

“Colorado has a rich tradition of open discourse,” Shogan said, in a news release. “There are many important issues on which we differ and it is important to provide the voters of this great state the opportunity to hear all of our views.”

Shogan needed to collect 1,000 valid voter signatures to make the ballot.

“My campaign will continue with support from the people of Colorado and, if elected, I will be beholden only to the people of Colorado,” he said. “My paramount purpose in this run for office is to break up the gridlock in Washington with an independent voice and swing vote in the Senate.”

Shogan, a prominent neurosurgeon in Denver for more than three decades, closed his practice shortly after announcing he would run for the Senate April 24. He already has run TV ads.

Add Cynthia Coffman to the list of politicos whose faces who will be dominating Colorado’s airwaves this fall: The Republican Attorneys General Association has reserved a stunning $2.6 million TV buy to promote her candidacy.

Attorney general candidate Cynthia Coffman makes her pitch to delegates at the GOP state assembly in Boulder April 12. (Coffman campaign)

Coffman, currently the No. 2 in the AG’s office, faces Democrat Don Quick in November for the open seat for attorney general. The winner will succeed Republican John Suthers, who is term limited and has been highly visible in recent weeks for his skirmishes over gay marriage.

The Republican Attorneys General Association is under fire in Colorado and Alabama for earlier donations to political-action committees. In Colorado, the money was used to hammer former Congressman Tom Tancredo in the governor’s primary.

The $2.6 million investment for Coffman is more than four times the amount spent by any candidate ever running for attorney general in Colorado, Quick said, and is believed to be the first time outside money has played a role in the race.

“I don’t think Colorado voters are going to like a group from the outside trying to buy the attorney general’s office,” said Quick, the former Adams County district attorney. “There may be a real estate boom right now but the attorney general’s office isn’t up for sale.”

Gov. John Hickenlooper recovered well after being late for his cue Wednesday morning at the Downtown Denver Partnership’s annual breakfast meeting.

David Kenney, a lobbyist and Democratic campaign consultant who is the new chairman of the downtown development nonprofit, introduced his longtime friend midway through the program. Trouble is, Hickenlooper, who planned to stop in to speak, was running a little behind.

After 10 seconds of applause — and no Hickenlooper — Kenney cleared his throat. “OK,” Kenney said, to chuckles. “Well, if he was here, this is what he would probably say…”

Congressional candidate George Leing, former state Senate candidate Lang Sias and the GOP gubernatorial nominee, Bob Beauprez, at a GOP governor’s debate in May in Westminster. (Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post)

Rep. Jared Polis

Congressman Jared Polis has declined a request from his Republican opponent, George Leing, to debate at Club 20’s fall meeting in Grand Junction in September.

“I expect that there will be several debates with both of us, but I don’t anticipate that any of the debates that we agree on will be out of district in Grand Junction,” Polis, a Boulder Democrat, said in an e-mail to The Denver Post Tuesday night.

Leing in a news release Tuesday said the 2nd Congressional District includes all or portions of Eagle, Grand and Summit counties, which are represented by Club 20, an influential Western Slope advocacy organization, so a debate at Club 20 is appropriate.

“The citizens of Eagle, Summit and Grand counties face some of the highest healthcare premiums in the nation, thanks in large part to Obamacare,” the Niwot attorney said. “They deserve a robust debate over the future of healthcare policy and other important issues.”

Gov. John Hickenlooper talks about the importance of Denver’s remodeled Union Station at a reception Tuesday night. (Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post)

Gov. John Hickenlooper stood in the renovated Denver Union Station Tuesday night and touted tourism and the economy while later dismissing political attacks.

Earlier that morning, the Colorado Tourism Office revealed a record 64.6 million visitors spent an all-time high of $17.3 billion in Colorado in 2013 — facts that Hickenlooper was only to happy to point out that night.

On Tuesday afternoon, Republican Bob Beauprez, who wants to unseat Hickenlooper in November, appeared at a Denver rally protesting EPA power plant proposals and once again repeating his mantra about the lack of leadership in Colorado.

When asked about the charge, Hickenlooper shrugged.

“It’s a political season,” he said. “If I say ‘up,’ they’re going to say ‘down.’ If I say ‘left’ they’re going to say ‘right.'”

Coal miners and protesters gather for a rally near the state Capitol against the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed rule to cut power-plant carbon dioxide emissions. The EPA is holding a public hearing in Denver regarding the proposal. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

With the EPA holding hearings in Denver over its proposed power plant rule, the campaigns for U.S. Senate contenders Mark Udall and Cory Gardner went to work as Coloradans on the left and the right held rallies.

Congressman Cory Gardner says he’s new, but his stubborn denial of climate science is backward and dangerous. As Colorado grapples with the effects of climate change on our water, our communities, mountain snowpack, and our farms and ranches, Gardner’s radical refusal to accept the science behind climate change endangers our special way of life.

State. Sen. Bernie Herpin, R-Colorado Springs, was chosen the Colorado County Clerks Association’s Legislator of the Year. He received the award Monday. (Handout photo)

Update: In addition to Bernie Herpin, the Colorado County Clerks Association also picked House Majority Leader Dickey Lee Hullinghorst, D-Boulder, as another Legislator of the Year.

Previously: State Sen. Bernie Herpin didn’t waste any time making a name for himself in Denver. Elected in the wake of the recall of Sen. John Morse last September. Herpin on Monday was chosen Legislator of the Year by the Colorado County Clerks Association.

According to a press release from Herpin’s re-election team, he won the prize “because of his ability to lead and reach across party lines to get things done in Denver.”

The Romanoff campaign’s news release assailing Coffman for the Friday vote came out Monday morning, just as the VA deal was being announced. “Congressman Coffman recently spent thousands of taxpayer dollars to send glossy brochures about sexual assault in the military, but given the opportunity to back up his words with actions, he failed,” Romanoff campaign spokeswoman Denise Baron charged in the release.

Coffman campaign manager Tyler Sandberg called the accusation “sleazy Washington politics at its worst.” Coffman voted against what he saw as a partisan motion Friday, he said, while working to ensure the sexual assault provisions survived through the conference committee.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.